Fired Heater Operator Training

Practical Skills for Safe, Efficient, and Reliable Heater Performance

A fired heater is only as good as the people operating it…

Fired heaters are among the most critical—and most complex—pieces of equipment in your refinery. Poor operation leads to safety risks, energy waste, and costly shutdowns. That’s why we’ve developed a focused, 3-hour course to give your team the fundamentals they need to operate fired heaters safely, efficiently, and with confidence. This is practical training designed by engineers, for operators and engineers.

Course Format & Delivery

Our training is a flexible, online course designed for refinery engineers and operators. It’s fully SCORM-compliant and can be integrated into your existing LMS.

  • 3 hours of self-paced content

  • Covers core topics: heat transfer, combustion fundamentals, burners, draft control, safe start-up, troubleshooting, and more

  • Accessible anytime, anywhere – from the control room, office, or home

  • SCORM-compliant for easy LMS integration

  • Track operator progress and completion

  • Optional annual re-enrollment or refresher course setup available

What You Will Learn

Our Operator Training Course is structured to build foundational knowledge and practical skills across the key areas of fired heater operation:

  • Heater Nomenclature - Understand the function and components of radiant and convection sections, stacks, burners, and more.

  • Heat Transfer Basics - Learn how energy moves through the heater and into the process stream—including radiation, convection, and conduction.

  • Fuels & Combustion - Get the basics of complete vs. incomplete combustion, fuel gas variability, and the impact of excess air.

  • Burners - Explore types of burners, air-fuel mixing, flame characteristics, and maintenance essentials.

  • Draft Control - Learn the role of stack dampers, draft measurement, and how draft affects combustion.

  • Safe Start-Up Procedures - Understand why most heater incidents happen during start-up—and how to prevent them.

  • Heater Operation - Review best practices for monitoring, inspection, and maintaining steady-state operation.

  • Troubleshooting - Identify and correct common operational issues using real-world case studies.

Practical Knowledge You Can Apply Right Away

Operators will leave this course with actionable skills, including:

  • How to safely start up a heater and avoid common explosion hazards

  • How to select appropriate operating parameters, including excess O₂ and draft

  • Signs of good vs. poor heater performance—and what to check

  • How to respond to high tube metal temperatures, burner problems, and uneven heat distribution

Includes four case studies and a review of frequent heater and burner issues your operators are likely to face in the field.

Join the Waitlist

Please complete the form to be notified about our online training course. Early registrations to the wait list will receive free enrollment.

FAQs

  • This course is designed for refinery operators, engineers, and anyone involved in the day-to-day operation or oversight of fired heaters. It's ideal for both new personnel and experienced staff seeking a structured refresher.

  • The course includes approximately 3 hours of self-paced content. Participants can complete it in one sitting or break it into shorter sessions as their schedule allows.

  • Yes, the course is 100% online and accessible from any internet-connected device—whether in the control room, office, or at home.

  • The course covers key aspects of fired heater operation, including nomenclature, heat transfer, combustion, burner types, draft control, safe start-up, troubleshooting, and more. It also includes real-world case studies.

  • Yes. Upon completing the course, participants receive a certificate they can download or print, which can be used for training records or compliance documentation.

  • Fill out the enrollment form on this page. We'll verify your information and send access instructions within two business days.

  • Participants can reach out to our support team with technical questions or content-related inquiries. We’re here to help ensure a smooth learning experience.

  • Yes. The course is SCORM-compliant and can be easily imported into your company’s LMS for internal tracking and assignment. Please contact us to learn more about this option.

  • During our pilot phase, the course is available for a special rate of $95 per participant. This limited-time pricing is offered to early participants who want to help shape the final version through their feedback.

    Standard individual pricing will be $295 once the pilot concludes.

    For teams or group licensing, please contact us to discuss custom packages and pricing options.